News In Brief

November 23, 1984

Washington

US inflation posted scant rise last month

Consumer prices, driven by more expensive gasoline and food, rose a moderate (seasonally adjusted) 0.4 percent in October, the government said Wednesday. The 1.8 percent gasoline price hike was the steepest since May 1983.

As for last month, analysts laid fully half the blame for higher prices on the increases for gasoline and food. Food prices, which had fallen in September, rose 0.4 percent.

In a separate report, the Commerce Department said orders received by factories for durable goods - items such as appliances, cars, and military hardware - fell 4.1 percent last month, the sharpest drop since the 6.5 percent slide in April.